Barnweill Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnweill Church |
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Barnweill Parish Church (suppressed 1673)
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| Location | Craigie, South Ayrshire |
| Country |  Scotland |
| Denomination | Protestant |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | 'Kirk in the Wood' |
| Status | Incumbent driven out in 1689 |
| Dedication | Originally to the Holy Rood |
| Events | Significant links with John Knox |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Cemetery in use until 1963 |
| Heritage designation | Category B listed |
| Closed | 1689 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Dressed stone and rubble |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Barnweil until 1673, then Craigie |
Barnweill Church, also known as Barnweil Church, is an old ruined church in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It sits on a hill near Tarbolton and was once called the "Kirk in the Wood." This church played an important role in the Protestant Reformation in Ayrshire because of its connection to John Knox.
Contents
History of Barnweill Church
What Does "Barnweill" Mean?
The name "Barnweill" has been spelled in different ways over time, like Berenbouell and Brenwyfle. Some experts believe the name comes from an old word meaning 'tree'. This makes sense because there are many similar names in the area.
A popular story says the name "Barnweill" comes from an event involving William Wallace. After he burned down English barns in Ayr, people supposedly said, "The barns burn weil" (meaning "well"). Another idea is that it means "The Hill of Streams."
Barnweill's Link to Fail Monastery
For a long time, the Barnweill church and its lands belonged to Fail Monastery. This monastery was run by the Trinitarian Order, also known as the 'Red Friars'. These monks had a special job: to help free people who were held captive or enslaved. They were even called 'The Fathers of Redemption'.
How the Parish Changed Over Time
The area around Barnweill Church was once its own parish (a church district). However, in 1673, the Barnweill parish was officially closed down. Most of its church income was given to the minister of the new parish in Stair.
The nearby area of Craigie, which had separated from another parish in 1647, then took over the lands of Barnweill. It's said that a powerful person, the Earl of Stair, wanted the parish closed. This was because it was a difficult horse ride for him to get to Barnweill Church from his home.
Many people in Barnweill were against this change. It took until 1707 for the church leaders to officially join the old Barnweill parish with Craigie and Tarbolton. Until then, the minister of Stair had to preach under an oak tree to legally get the Barnweill income! Some old Barnweill churchgoers joined the church in Symington.
Even today, the churches of Symington and Craigie still meet at Barnweill Church every Easter. They gather at sunrise to celebrate the Resurrection.
Past Church Leaders
The last minister of Barnweill Church was Reverend Robert Kincaid. He was forced to leave the church in 1689. He then moved to Glasgow, where he passed away in 1691.
The Church Building and Cemetery
The Church Ruins
The church building itself is now a small ruin. It is about 13.7 meters long and 5.7 meters wide. The walls are about 0.75 meters thick and stand about 1.5 meters high. This old church is believed to have been built around the early 1400s. After the parish was closed in 1673, the church slowly fell into ruin.
The building had doors on both its north and south sides. The window on the east end might be from the 1400s. Some parts of the building, especially the stronger west end, might be even older.
In the 1800s, the church's gables (the triangular parts of the walls) were still at their original height. However, the side walls were already very low. You can see signs of recent repairs that have been done to keep the ruins from falling apart more. The church bell was still there in the early 1800s. It was later given to a church in Ayr in 1857.
The Cemetery
The churchyard is roughly square and surrounded by a wall and trees. The oldest readable gravestone in the cemetery is from 1661, but some others look much older. A very old path leads to the church from a nearby road. This path was likely used for funerals and by people coming to church. The last known burial here was in 1963.
Some gravestones have a raised shield with a coat of arms. One of these shows a lion, which was the symbol of the Wallace family from Craigie Castle. You can find many family names on the gravestones, such as Neil, Brown, Glover, Anderson, and more.
One interesting gravestone belongs to Colonel J W Neil Smith. It also mentions his wife, Evelyn Mary Mapis Duke. Another curious stone is a small, fallen gravestone from 1911 that says "Our Dear Frau." This might be for a family pet.
John Knox and the Reformation
It is recorded that John Knox once preached at Barnweill Church. This church is considered important in Scottish history because it is said to be the place where he first began the Scottish Reformation in Ayrshire. This was a major religious change in Scotland.
Interesting Facts
- It was common in Ayrshire for a church to be built close to a fortified house or castle.
- The village of Barnweill no longer exists. However, old maps show that there were once houses called Townhead, Midtown, and Townend of Barnweill along the old road.
- During the time of Queen Anne (1702-1714), some people from the closed Barnweill parish were accused of setting fire to the new church in Stair.
- A woman from the old Barnweill parish was accused of being a witch and was executed in Ayr in 1586 or 1587. Records show the costs for the event, including candles, food, and materials for the fire.
- The land area known as the Barony of Barnweill was owned by the Hamilton and Wallace families.
- Underwood House was once known by the name Nether Barnweill.
Images for kids
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The moat of Barnweill Castle.
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Loudoun Kirk ruins, a similar old church in Ayrshire.
